Cohen Links Latimer To Sheldon Silver

The state GOP is out with a mailer that boasts of Republican Senate candidate Bob Cohen’s independence and ties Assemblyman George Latimer, D-Rye, to the troubles of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan.

In June, Silver paid out $103,000 in taxpayer money in a sexual harassment case involving powerful Assemblyman Vito Lopez, D-Brooklyn. Cohen has called on Silver to resign as speaker, and he has knocked Latimer for not doing the same.

“Is George Latimer kidding?” the mailer reads. “Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver arranged hush money to cover up a string of sexual assault allegations made by young female staffers.”

It adds, “Bob Cohen was one of the first people in New York State to call on Sheldon Silver to resign. Cohen has the courage to stand up for women in government and to stand up to the political bosses.” (h/t to Capital Tonight)

Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy said in a statement that “Once again, Anti-Choice Bob Cohen and his conservative allies are using the same tired tactics to distract voters from their candidates and their party’s abysmal record on women’s issues. No amount of lies and distortions can cover up the fact the Bob Cohen and his Republican supporters have failed to stand up for women.”

Murphy said Latimer has been a champion for women’s rights and is backed by women’s groups.